Jacob Dickinson and UPDATE McAllen High School

June, 2009
by Eileen Mattai

Scholarship Winner Jacob Dickinson

Jacob Dickinson, 2009 graduate of McAllen High and Tech Prep Scholar, has crystal clear goals for his future: physician and family man. By being chosen as the recipient of the $5,000 Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos Tech Prep Scholarship, Jacob has taken a step closer to those goals.

Jacob credits the Agricultural Technology (AAS) Tech Program with shaping him into a well-informed agricultural professional. “This Tech Prep program has provided me with life skills. The most important lessons learned are leadership, time management, and the importance of presentation.” In the FFA, among other duties, he served as president and on livestock judging teams. The skills gained here, he said, will be of use as he pursues a medical degree.

Jacob graduated in the Distinguished Achievement Plan as a Texas Scholar. He earned a 4.0 GPA taking mostly AP and GT courses, and along the way accumulated 22 college credits through dual-enrollment.

Jacob became a Certified Pharmacy Tech, both for the medial grounding it offered and to provide a skilled job to help pay for college expenses. He found time for extracurricular activities including the National Honor Society and four years on the football team where he was recognized as the player with the highest GPA. He also participated on the golf and track teams and was active in his church.

On his own initiative, Jacob spent a day observing surgeons in a hospital operating room and talking with them. “I was exceptionally lucky to have such a wonderful experience being able to see these men in action,” he said. His interactions with the physicians fueled his passion to go in to medicine. A medical professional in the surgical suite described Jacob as an “articulate, disciplined young adult (who) had no difficulty carrying on intelligent conversations with board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists.”

One clearly thought out step in Jacob’s plan is to attend Blinn College to receive an Associate Degree in Nursing. Then he’ll attain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing form Texas A & M. Jacob has carefully assessed the challenges of getting into medical school and, determined to succeed, has researched what he must do.

While in high school, Jacob has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Driscoll’s Children’s Home, and church-related charity work. That explains why he sees his future including more than medicine. “I hope that I will be known as an exceptional doctor, but more importantly, I want to be known as a great family man.”

Congratulations on your Tech Prep Scholarship, Jacob.

UPDATE:
Summer 2010 finds Jacob at home in McAllen, “I’m working for my dad at Valley Trucking Center” he says. Jacob had a most successful year at Blinn College where he posted a 3.65 taking Sophomore classes, such as Anatomy I & II, Biology I & II, Micro biology, Nutrition, and General Psychology. Jacob will transfer to Texas A&M in the fall as a Junior student.